MBox2 Pro - No Output at all

[spkguitar]

Originally Posted by Freakazoid

My notebook is a Dell Inpsiron 1720 with 4GB of Ram.

We're going to need more information about your system to be able to help you. The Inspiron 1720 comes with multiple options (11 different CPU options! 4 of which are not compatible with Pro Tools), so it's not as easy as "you need to do this".

Please read the General Troubleshooting post and follow the instructions there for posting details about your system.

[Freakazoid]

Okay, I am sorry. I now have a complete overview of my computer from SiSoft here. I hope this helps

SiSoftware Sandra

System
Modell : Dell Inc. Inspiron 1720

Processor
Modell : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T7250 @ 2.00GHz
Geschwindigkeit : 2GHz
Kerne pro Prozessor : 2 Einheit(en)
Threads pro Kern : 1 Einheit(en)
Typ : Mobile, Dual-Core
Interner Datencache : 2x 32kB, Synchron, Write-Thru, 8-weg Satz, 64 Byte Zeilengröße
L2 Onboard Cache : 2MB, ECC, Synchron, ATC, 8-weg Satz, 64 Byte Zeilengröße, 2 geteilte Threads

System
Platform Compliance : Intel Centrino Duo Mobile Technologie
Mainboard : Dell Inc. 0UK437
System BIOS : Dell Inc. A09 (07/11/2008)
Bus(se) : ISA X-Bus PCI PCIe IMB PCMCIA USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus
MP Unterstützung : Nein
MP APIC : Ja
Gesamtspeicher : 3.5GB DDR2 SO-DIMM

Chipsatz
Modell : Dell Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 Express Processor to DRAM Controller
Front Side Bus Geschwindigkeit : 4x 200MHz (800MHz)
Gesamtspeicher : 4GB DDR2 SO-DIMM
Speicherbusgeschwindigkeit : 2x 333MHz (666MHz)

Speichermodul(e)
Speichermodul : Hynix (Hyundai) HYMP125S64CP8-Y5 2GB DDR2 SO-DIMM PC2-5300U DDR2-666 (5-5-5-15 3-20-5-3)
Speichermodul : Hynix (Hyundai) HYMP125S64CP8-Y5 2GB DDR2 SO-DIMM PC2-5300U DDR2-666 (5-5-5-15 3-20-5-3)

Grafiksystem
Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT (32 SP 548MHz, 256MB DDR2 2x200MHz, PCIe 1.00 x16)

Grafikprozessor
Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT (128SP 337MHz, 256MB 2x200MHz Interne Grafikeinheit)

Physische Speichergeräte
ST9160821AS (160GB, SATA150, 2.5", NCQ, 8MB Cache) : 149GB (C:) (E:) (F:)
WDC WD1600BEVS-75RST (160GB, SATA150, 2.5", 5400rpm, NCQ, 8MB Cache) : 149GB (D:) (G:)
HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GSA-T21N (ATA33, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : k.A. (H:)

Logischer Speichergeräte
RECOVERY (E:) : 10GB (NTFS) @ ST9160821AS (160GB, SATA150, 2.5", NCQ, 8MB Cache)
Windows Vista (C:) : 78GB (NTFS) @ ST9160821AS (160GB, SATA150, 2.5", NCQ, 8MB Cache)
Audio (F:) : 61GB (NTFS) @ ST9160821AS (160GB, SATA150, 2.5", NCQ, 8MB Cache)
Festplatte (D:) : 34GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD1600BEVS-75RST (160GB, SATA150, 2.5", 5400rpm, NCQ, 8MB Cache)
Daten (G:) : 115GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD1600BEVS-75RST (160GB, SATA150, 2.5", 5400rpm, NCQ, 8MB Cache)
CD-ROM/DVD (H:) : k.A. @ HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GSA-T21N (ATA33, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)

Peripherie
LPC Hub Controller 1 : Dell ICH8M-E (ICH8) LPC Interface Controller
LPC Legacy Controller 1 : SMSC T1 32
Audio Gerät : Dell 82801H (ICH8) HD Audio Controller
Audio Codec : Sigmatel 76A0h
Audio Codec : Conexant 2C06h
Serielle Port(s) : 1
Laufwerkscontroller : Dell 82801H (ICH8) Ultra ATA Storage Controllers
Laufwerkscontroller : Dell Mobile SATA AHCI Controller
USB Controller 1 : Dell 82801H (ICH8) USB UHCI #4
USB Controller 2 : Dell 82801H (ICH8) USB UHCI #5
USB Controller 3 : Dell 82801H (ICH8) USB2 EHCI #2
USB Controller 4 : Dell 82801H (ICH8) USB UHCI #1
USB Controller 5 : Dell 82801H (ICH8) USB UHCI #2
USB Controller 6 : Dell 82801H (ICH8) USB UHCI #3
USB Controller 7 : Dell 82801H (ICH8) USB2 EHCI #1
FireWire/1394 Controller 1 : Dell R5C832 IEEE-1394 Controller
System SMBus Controller 1 : Intel 801xx/63xx SMBus

Drucker- und Faxgeräte
Drucker : Microsoft XPS Document Writer (600x600, Farbwiedergabe)

Scanner und Kameras
Camcorder : Laptop Integrated Webcam (USB)

Netzwerkdienste
Netzwerkadapter : Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller - Paketplaner-Miniport
Netzwerkadapter : Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN - Paketplaner-Miniport (Ethernet, 36Mbps)
Wireless-Adapter 1 : Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN - Paketplaner-Miniport (TKIP, 36Mbps)

Energieverwaltung
Stromnetzstatus : Angeschlossen
Batterie Nr. 1 : 100%

Betriebssystem
Windowssystem : Microsoft Windows XP Professional 5.01.2600 (Service Pack 3)
Platform Compliance : x86

[spkguitar]

Yes, thank you.

Originally Posted by Freakazoid

Physische Speichergeräte
ST9160821AS (160GB, SATA150, 2.5", NCQ, 8MB Cache) : 149GB (C:) (E:) (F:)
WDC WD1600BEVS-75RST (160GB, SATA150, 2.5", 5400rpm, NCQ, 8MB Cache) : 149GB (D:) (G:)
HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GSA-T21N (ATA33, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : k.A. (H:)

Logischer Speichergeräte
RECOVERY (E:) : 10GB (NTFS) @ ST9160821AS (160GB, SATA150, 2.5", NCQ, 8MB Cache)
Windows Vista (C:) : 78GB (NTFS) @ ST9160821AS (160GB, SATA150, 2.5", NCQ, 8MB Cache)
Audio (F:) : 61GB (NTFS) @ ST9160821AS (160GB, SATA150, 2.5", NCQ, 8MB Cache)
Festplatte (D:) : 34GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD1600BEVS-75RST (160GB, SATA150, 2.5", 5400rpm, NCQ, 8MB Cache)
Daten (G:) : 115GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD1600BEVS-75RST (160GB, SATA150, 2.5", 5400rpm, NCQ, 8MB Cache)
CD-ROM/DVD (H:) : k.A. @ HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GSA-T21N (ATA33, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)

There's a big problem here.

Pro Tools requires a separate physical disk for audio, and it needs to meet certain specific requirements (7200rpm or more, seek time less than 10.0 ms). You are lucky in that your laptop is one of the rare ones that is capable of dual hard drives, but...

You are using a partition on your system drive for your audio (according to your report). The system drive is also not reporting it's speed to Sandra, which is odd, but I'm guessing it to be the same as the other drive; 5400rpm. Most manufacturers load the lower powered, low RPM drives in laptops to save battery life.

For Pro Tools sessions, you are going to need to use the other drive, AND you are going to need to replace it with a faster 7200rpm drive.

In my opinion, this is your main problem.

Originally Posted by Freakazoid

Netzwerkdienste
Netzwerkadapter : Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller - Paketplaner-Miniport
Netzwerkadapter : Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN - Paketplaner-Miniport (Ethernet, 36Mbps)
Wireless-Adapter 1 : Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN - Paketplaner-Miniport (TKIP, 36Mbps)

You definitely need to disable the wireless interface(s) when using Pro Tools. It's recommended that you disable all network interfaces when using Pro Tools, but in my experience, disabling the wireless is a MUST.

Originally Posted by Freakazoid

FireWire/1394 Controller 1 : Dell R5C832 IEEE-1394 Controller

This might be problematic with the MBox 2 pro. You may want to try the qualified express card that is listed on the Digidesign Qualified firewire interface page.



DISCLAIMER: there are no guarantees on this advice given. One/some of these suggestions may solve your problem. Then again, they may not.

[Freakazoid]

First of all: A big thank you to you spkguitar. I couldn`t really solve the problem till now, because I have other things to do too... But I hope with such good help I will soon be able to.

I already disabled the network cards but that didnt help. About the harddrive I am really confused: I just used on Track of "Boom" on a test project to test the Mbox. There is supposed to be not much traffic on the harddrives, or am I wrong? It might be the problem that the 2 harddrives are running in a Raid System. But that is not so easy for me to solve as I still gut my second, private Win Vista installation on the drives.

My plan for now is: I have to backup my data. Then I will format the whole computer and get rid of the the Raid System. Install a total clean installation of Win XP and install only the necessary drivers and connections. Along with that I am gonna buy a PCIe Firewire Card in the local electronic shop and try it with this. The problem with the "qualified express card" is, that is seems like I cannot get this card from a Dealer in Germany. So I will first of all try it with another.
If it doesnt work at all, I would have to order this card from somewhere else. And I am planning on buying a new second drive. I found this one for example: http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Moment...5237324&sr=1-3. This should do the trick, or not?

Also I will write a email to the support of Digidesign. Perhaps they can have a look at my components and tell me I anything else is alright.

I will let you know how it worked out, but it might take a time.


Thanks again for all your help
Freakazoid

[spkguitar]

Wow. OK...

Originally Posted by Freakazoid

A big thank you to you spkguitar.

You're welcome, but...

Originally Posted by Freakazoid

About the harddrive I am really confused: I just used on Track of "Boom" on a test project to test the Mbox. There is supposed to be not much traffic on the harddrives, or am I wrong?

You're right and wrong at the same time. Pro Tools uses the drive no matter what, so even if you think you're not using it, the drive still needs to be what Pro Tools requires for a hard drive.

Originally Posted by Freakazoid

It might be the problem that the 2 harddrives are running in a Raid System.

Yes, that would definitely be a problem as Pro Tools does not support RAID for audio drives AT ALL. Usually, Sandra will report if you have a RAID setup, but it didn't this time (or I would have mentioned that as well).

Originally Posted by Freakazoid

My plan for now is: I have to backup my data.

That is a great plan. (You should be doing that all the time anyway, though. )

Originally Posted by Freakazoid

Then I will format the whole computer and get rid of the the Raid System. Install a total clean installation of Win XP and install only the necessary drivers and connections.

Again... great plan.

Originally Posted by Freakazoid

Along with that I am gonna buy a PCIe Firewire Card in the local electronic shop and try it with this.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, stop right there...

You have a laptop. You are not going to be able to expand a laptop with a PCIe card, my friend. That is why I recommended the express card; it is the only one that will work for your computer.

Originally Posted by Freakazoid

If it doesnt work at all, I would have to order this card from somewhere else.

That is definitely what you are going to have to do.

Originally Posted by Freakazoid

And I am planning on buying a new second drive. I found this one for example: http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Moment...5237324&sr=1-3. This should do the trick, or not?

That should do the trick as your second drive that you are using for audio. Keep in mind that you will be replacing the drive that is already there, so you might want to get an external enclosure for the drive you are removing. It won't be any good for using with Pro Tools, but it will probably make a decent backup drive.

[Freakazoid]

Whoa, whoa, whoa, stop right there...

You have a laptop. You are not going to be able to expand a laptop with a PCIe card, my friend. That is why I recommended the express card; it is the only one that will work for your computer.

Okay, my bad. I have written it wrong. I was not toalking about a PCIe card, but about a Express Card or as PCMCIA Adapter.

Sorry...

But this will take a few days. I will be back...


Freakazoid

[TOM@METRO]

Since you have re-installed the drivers, have you tried a intirely new session with default I/O settings?